The Elephant Keeper LP (Paperback)

Indie Next List

August 2009This story of two baby elephants and the young man who becomes their keeper is a great read, and Christopher Nicholson's exploration of the relationship between Tom, the elephant keeper, and Jenny the elephant is wonderful. -- Martha Arnett, Carpe Librum Booksellers, Knoxville, TN

Description

"I asked the sailor what an Elephant looked like; he replied that it was like nothing on earth."

England, 1766: After a long voyage from the East Indies, a ship docks in Bristol, England, and rumor quickly spreads about its unusual cargosome say a mermaid is on board. A crowd forms, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magical creature. One crate after another is unpacked: a zebra, a leopard, and a baboon. There's no mermaid, but in the final two crates is something almost as magicala pair of young elephants, in poor health but alive.

Seeing a unique opportunity, a wealthy sugar merchant purchases the elephants for his country estate and turns their care over to a young stable boy, Tom Page. Tom's family has long cared for horses, but an elephant is something different altogether. It takes time for Tom and the elephants to understand one another, but to the surprise of everyone on the estate, a remarkable bond is formed.

The Elephant Keeper, the story of Tom and the elephants, in Tom's own words, moves from the green fields and woods of the English countryside to the dark streets and alleys of late-eighteenth-century London, reflecting both the beauty and the violence of the age. Nicholson's lush writing and deft storytelling complement a captivating tale of love and loyalty between one man and the two elephants that change the lives of all who meet them.

About the Author

A prizewinning radio documentary producer who has worked for the BBC World Service, Christopher Nicholson rode an elephant for the first time at Chitwan National Park in Nepal. He has been interested in natural history his entire life, and many of the programs he produced for the BBC revolved around the connection between animals and humans. Because of a love for the novels of Thomas Hardy, Nicholson and his wife settled in Dorset, England, with their two children.

Praise for The Elephant Keeper LP…

“A sensitive boy suddenly becomes groom to Timothy and Jenny, the first pair of young elephants brought into England in the 1700s. This informative, engaging and moving book has clear insight into the impact of poverty, alienation and isolation that is as relevant today as it was then.” -San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

“While deftly portraying 18th century village and estate life as well as the dark, fog-bound streets of London, The Elephant Keeper examines themes such as human choice, fate and the cruel British class system.” -Minneapolis Star Tribune

“This elegant story is not just for animal lovers. In it, readers see how the bonds of friendship go beyond time, age or species. Definitely one to put on your “to read” list.” -Deseret Morning News

“An endearing account of a virtually telepathic relationship between man and animal.” -Booklist

“[Nicholson’s] lush new novel of the late 18th century…Jenny is a magnificent character…She gives the book its weight, in every sense…the sheer richness of the story’s texture. The Elephant Keeper evokes 18th-century village and estate life beautifully, and is stuffed with fascinating data from medical and veterinary history.” -The Independent (UK)

“Endearing...Like the elephant at its centre, Nicholson’s book is gentle, profound and sweet-natured.” -The Guardian

“Christopher Nicholson traces the arc of Tom and Jenny’s surprising journey with delicate empathy. He confronts sex, violence and power, but he does not shy away from less dramatic themes, such as gentleness and companionship, which help to make The Elephant Keeper such a rewarding book.” -Times Literary Supplement (London)

“A captivatingly original novel…This is a wonderful feat of story-telling, remarkable for its ability to wrench your heart without resorting to easy sentimentality.” -Daily Mail (London)

“A pleasingly ambling tale.” -Financial Times

“[A] remarkable debut. An unforgettable picture of an elephant/human relationship so close that, as the elephant learns to think like a human, she teaches her human to think like an elephant. This is one of the best books of the year.” -BookPage

“THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is a strange tour of late 18th-century England, a natural history of elephants and the story of a most unusual friendship, all told with a touch of the otherworldly elegance and wit of Babar.” -Washington Post